The Lady of the castle stood on the balcony. A black lizard with spikes down its back sat on the ledge. Its long tail hung over the side and swished back and forth. It was only a couple of feet tall but it had a full set of sharp teeth that made it truly dangerous. She patted its head and its tongue slithered out to lick the air. “What do you see my pet?”

“The darkwing is coming.” It hissed.

She looked up into the gray sky and the roiling clouds. A storm was on the way. She saw a small dot moving toward her castle. “Only one?”

“Yesss…”

She waited for the darkwing to glide in. After its slow flight it pulled up and landed on the ledge. “What took you so long?”

“We found the Airwolf.” It said with a ragged breath.

“Then where is it?”

“The beast was full grown.” It hissed. “We had trouble subduing it.”

Her jaw tightened and her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“It tore out Dren’s throat. I slipped away before it could tear out mine.”

She grabbed the darkwing off the ledge and shouted into its face. “Where is it now?”

The darkwing flinched away from the Lady. “It…is…It’s with the Riders”

“What!?” She threw the darkwing through the door and into the hall. It tumbled over several times before stopping. “How could you let that happen?”

“They were all over the place when we found it. I couldn’t get back to it before they took it away.” It was too afraid to get up and stayed on the floor when it answered the Lady.

She rushed in after it. “But how did they get it to go with them?”

“There was a girl.”

“What kind of girl?” She stood over the darkwing while berating it with questions.

“A local girl, she had the scent of the Airwolf all over her. She is the one that got the Airwolf to hatch. The Riders were as surprised by the Airwolf as we were. They were lucky to even be there.”

“You’re telling me that this peasant girl got the Airwolf to go along with the Riders?”

“It appeared that way. I saw them ride off. She was riding the Airwolf.”

“How can this be? I have spent so many years waiting for the Airwolf and I have spent so much effort trying to get my hands on that egg and some stupid girl swoops in and takes it. She must have already bonded to the animal. Ahh!” She strode across the room in anger. A gust of wind blew through the open doors and banged them against the wall. “Did they go to Aerion?”

“Yesss….”

“You are sure?”

“They took the Airwolf back as soon as they could.”

She turned back with her fists clenched and her eyes were like daggers. “Tell me about the girl.”

“She was a local servant. That’s all I really know and, she had an odd look.”

“What was odd about her?” The queen snapped.

“Her hair. She had a streak in her hair like yours.”

She whipped around. “Are you sure?”

“Yesss…I was close to her and, I talked to her before the Airwolf attacked.”

The Lady laughed hysterically. “Do you know what this means?”

“No, I don’t, mistress.”

“It means that the Riders don’t have the Airwolf unless they have the girl.” She laughed again.

“But they have the girl. I saw her ride off with them.”

“No, the girl is like me. I can get her to join me and the Airwolf will be mine just like I planned all along.” Her laughs echoed through the hall, past the frozen beasts with their swinging lanterns and bounced off dark corridors leading to depths unknown.

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Gwinn stood up and dusted herself off. Her fingers missed the saddle again. After training for a few days Gwinn had developed several bumps and bruises. She groaned when she accidentally brushed over one of them. There was a clump of grass on her shoulder. She flicked it off the blue tunic. It still bothered her to wear it but they had insisted and she didn’t want to cause another fiasco over a shirt.

“You must be quicker.” Darolyn yelled at her across the field.

“I was moving quickly.”

Darolyn shook her head. “Do it again.”

Gwinn sighed but, she motioned for Alcor to make another pass. He ran across the field and passed in front of her. She jogged alongside him and jumped. She tried to grab the handles on the side of Alcor’s saddle. Her fingers caught on one of the handles but her grip was weak. It slid from her grasp and she tumbled onto the ground.

Darolyn walked over to Gwinn and clicked her tongue. “You are not improving.”

“I don’t see why I have to do this. I’ve never seen a Rider mount their horses this way.” She wiped her dirty palms on her pants and got back up.

“You have only seen Riders at one Inn carrying marginally important messages. You will be faced with much harder circumstances if you make it past training and if you want to last long as a Rider you will learn this simple task.”

“I didn’t sign up for this.” Gwinn reminded Darolyn.

“Regardless, if you fail your training, you will not survive as a Rider. Pay attention. I am not doing this for my benefit but for yours.”

Gwinn snorted.

“Do it again.” Darolyn snapped. “This time use the animal’s movement to your advantage.”

Gwinn set her shoulders motioned for Alcor and got ready for his pass. She reached for the harness but missed again. She fell on her sore bruise and moaned. Alcor stopped and came back to her side. “Are you all right?” He nudged her with his soft nose.

“I think so.”

The other recruits had finished their training for the day and they came to watch her with Alcor. They laughed when they saw her on the ground. “Great, just what I need an audience.” She said under her breath. Gwinn got up slowly as Darolyn came back to scold her.

“You’re not keeping your eyes on the saddle. You have to focus.” She said. The other recruits watched closely as Darolyn scolded Gwinn.

“I have a little brother who could have gotten it by now.” A tall boy with dark hair said. “Would you like me to go and get him so he can show you how it’s done?” Everyone laughed at her.

He was only a trainee but, he was already rude and arrogant. They must train them that way. She glared at him. She was no longer a servant. She didn’t have to take this from him. “Go ahead, go and get your brother and I’ll feed him to the Airwolf.”

The others stopped laughing and, he glared back at her. “Both of you knock it off.” Darolyn said coming between them. “I will not have my Riders fighting amongst themselves.”

“She’s not a Rider.” The boy spat.

“That is not for you to decide.” Darolyn told him.

“She took the Airwolf while we were training for the chance to be his Rider. She doesn’t even know what she’s doing.” He crossed his arms and planted his feet.

“I didn’t take him.” Gwinn said back.

Darolyn held her hands up. “This is not an ideal situation for any of us but we must all deal with it the best we can. Torston keep your mouth shut and Gwinn try it again.”

Gwinn sighed and walked away with Alcor at her heels. “We need to try something else. This isn’t working. I can see the handle but I can’t seem to get a hold of it. How ‘bout instead of me trying to catch the handle you try to catch me.”

He tilted his head at her. “That might work.”

“When you get close to me tilt to the side. I’ll jump and then you swoop under me. I’m not going to focus on the saddle this time.”

“All right.” He agreed. “I don’t want you to fall again.”

“Nether do I.” They both went to their places. He set up on the opposite side of the field and she signaled to him. He started forward but this time she closed her eyes. She didn’t want her eyes to automatically look for the handles. When she closed her eyes, she felt more relaxed and she could sense Alcor moving toward her. It wasn’t because she heard him but because she could feel him. When she felt him approach, she opened her eyes. He tilted toward her and she jumped. He swooped under her and she felt the saddle but this time she had extra time to get her hands on the handle. Her hands moved over the saddle before gravity brought her down and she was able to get a good hold on the handles. Gwinn pulled herself up onto the saddle as Alcor swooped back in the other direction. She got her leg over the other side and situated herself in the saddle. She almost lost her balance as she shifted but she held on tightly. She wasn’t going to let the others see her fall again. “Yes!” She yelled. “We did it!”

He roared through the air as they passed over the others. Then he circled higher and higher. He took her up to the clouds past the pearl towers and she squealed with delight. “They’re calling us back.” He said.

“Do we have to go back? I want to stay up here with you.”

He circled around a few more times. “Me too.” They spent several minutes up in the air ignoring Darolyn.

“I guess we should go back or they’ll probably come looking for us.” She finally conceded. They circled back down and landed in the field. Darolyn was waiting for them.

“You weren’t supposed to go on a flight. I just wanted you to catch the saddle and come back.” She gave them both a look of disapproval. “Anyhow, that will be enough for today.”

Gwinn slid down and Darolyn handed her a packet of papers. “What’s this?” She asked.

“Maps, you will need to study them.”

“Maps?” Gwinn looked at them with a puzzled expression.

“Yes, you’ll need to know the terrain you’ll be flying over. It’s very important for every Rider to know their maps.”

“Oh.” Gwinn said taking the packet. “I’ve never studied maps before.”

“Then I guess you should take extra time with them.” Darolyn said before marching off the field.

“Study maps? When? In my spare time?” She laughed to Alcor. “I’m going to find my bed and then collapse. Then I have to turn around and do it all over again in the morning…maps.” She shook her head.

Gwinn spent the next few days getting better at the quick mount. She got to the point where she could feel Alcor’s presence without looking. She could jump at just the right time and she knew he would be there.

Gwinn made her way down to the field. She was early today and there was a fine mist in the morning air. Gwinn was the first one to the field and, she smiled with satisfaction. She looked out beyond the practice field. There was a white colonnaded balcony and on the other side was a drop off. The forest lay beyond it spreading out to the horizon where the sun was breaking over the horizon.

Gwinn felt Alcor’s presence near the stables as she waited for everyone else to show up. Darolyn was the first person to arrive. She approached Gwinn with a stiff manner. “I’m glad to see that you’ve decided to take this seriously.”

“What ever made you think I wasn’t? My whole life was changed in the matter of a day. Of course I’m taking this seriously.”

Darolyn nodded. “That is true but, it still seems like you are having trouble adjusting. Do you feel more secure here? Have you finally come to accept the Riders?”

“I have come to accept that you have Alcor’s best interests at heart. I don’t know if that includes me or not but as long as you care about him I am content to be here.” Gwinn replied honestly.

Darolyn just looked at her but did not respond. Gwinn assumed it was because she had been too honest. She must have hit the nail on the head. She knew these Riders didn’t care what happened to her but Gwinn did care about Alcor and she would stay here for him. Gwinn changed the subject. There was no point in arguing. They were all stuck with each other, for the time being. “When do I get to move on to something else? I’ve got the quick mount down pretty well.”

Darolyn pulled up her clipboard and read over it. She clicked her tongue and shook her head. “I’m not so sure.”

“All right,” Gwinn said without complaint. She felt Alcor leave the stables and make his way toward the field. She knew exactly which way he was coming. Gwinn gave Darolyn an odd smile and then sprinted across the field.

“What are you doing?”

Gwinn didn’t stop to answer her. She reached the balcony but didn’t stop. She stepped up and pushed herself off the edge. Then flung her arms out and dove into the air.

Darolyn gasped as Gwinn disappeared over the ledge. She ran after her knowing there was nothing she could do to save the girl. Before Darolyn got ten feet, a fluffy blur swooped up over the balcony. She stopped when she realized it was the Airwolf with Gwinn securely riding on its back. They glided to the middle of the field and landed smoothly.

“All right, maybe it is time to move on.” Darolyn said to them.

The other trainees had made their way to the field by now and they watched the whole thing. A few of them stared out right but Torston gave her a smug grin. She shook him off. She had received worse looks by far more threatening people before.

“I guess it’s time for you to learn how to ride, on the ground and in the air.” Darolyn said. Gwinn spent the rest of the day being instructed on proper riding techniques. It was long and tedious but at least she got to do something different.

After she finished training for the day, she decided to check on Merith. Gwinn was getting to know her way around the city. She only made one wrong turn before finding the bakery. A sign above the door read, Sweeter Than Wings, and there was a small picture of a cupcake with wings. Gwinn nodded. This was the right place.

She walked in. There were a few customers inside but no one she recognized. Merith chirped when she saw Gwinn. “Hello. It's good to see you too.”

Morwena popped up from behind the counter and shrieked. “Oh, Gwinn! I’m glad you’re here. You can tell me everything that’s happening with the Riders.”

“Uhh…I don’t know much.”

“Tell me how your training is going. Have you met any new friends? Did you meet a boy named Trent? Are there any new trainees accepted for ridership?” Morwena blurted out.

All the questions made Gwinn’s head spin. “Ummm.”

“Are you tired? You should sit down.” Morwena pulled up a chair for Gwinn. “Here, rest and then tell me everything.”

“There’s not much to tell. I have bumps and bruises all over from learning how to ride.”

“Oh, that sounds awful.” Morwena sympathized. “Don’t you have any good gossip to tell about the Riders?”

“They don’t tell me much.” Gwinn shrugged.

“But you’re around them all day.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t have much gossip to give you but I don’t think they trust me.”

Morwena was taken aback. “Why wouldn’t they? You’re a Rider aren’t you?”

Gwinn cringed at being called a Rider. “They only tolerate me because of Alcor.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Morwena waved her hand like it was no big deal. “They’ll come around. It’s not like they can get rid of you.”

Gwinn frowned. She wasn’t so sure. “Morwena, there might be something you can tell me.”

She laughed. “Me? What could I tell you?”

“You can tell me why Alcor is so important to the Riders.”

“He is a very powerful animal. They want to make sure that he does not fall into the wrong hands.”

“So he is more than a legend. He is an asset to them.” Gwinn concluded.

“I suppose you could say that.”